Alcohol Withdrawal

Dealing with an addiction to alcohol can quickly become overwhelming not just for the individual who is using alcohol, but surrounding friends and family members who are struggling to help with the addiction itself. Overcoming and defeating an addiction to alcohol can be done by understanding withdrawal signs, symptoms and how to help those in need of medical assistance if necessary when quitting an addiction to alcohol without guidance and direction.

What is Alcohol Addiction?

An addiction to alcohol often begins slow and progresses over time as the individual becomes accustomed to drinking regularly and then requires more alcohol to feel “buzzed” or “drunk” from the alcohol itself. At a point in drinking regularly, the body begins to crave alcohol. When an individual becomes severely addicted to drinking alcohol each day, especially those who partake in morning drinking or drinking as soon as waking up, are more likely to experience withdrawal signs and symptoms and less time. Alcohol addiction may lead to using the last of one’s money to purchase alcohol, regardless of its quality or price, which is a sign that abusing alcohol may be a priority over other responsibilities in life.Taking note of your loved one’s behavior is highly recommended if you believe they may have become addicted to using alcohol regularly or if you believe they are abusing alcohol more frequently than necessary. Changes in behavior, attitude and even social preferences can also be signs of alcohol addiction. Understanding both the mental and physical signs and symptoms of an addiction to alcohol can help you to gain additional insight into how alcohol affects everyone involved.Alcohol Withdrawal Signs and SymptomsWhen an individual is extremely addicted to alcohol, signs and symptoms of withdrawal are common immediately after a drink. However, minor signs and symptoms can also become prevalent in individuals who are accustomed to drinking but are not entirely addicted within 12 hours of having their last drink. Common withdrawal signs and symptoms of using alcohol frequently includes irritability and mood swings along with increased sweating, shakiness, anxiety and even induced panic attacks. Frequent headaches and insomnia with the inability to sleep throughout an entire night are also signs and symptoms of going through an alcohol withdrawal. Individuals who are familiar with drinking each day may also feel nauseous or experience vomiting with attempting to quit using alcohol altogether.In extreme cases with patients who have become severely addicted to drinking alcohol each day, it is common for both auditory and visual hallucinations to occur within the first 12 to 24 hours, which do not often progress beyond two days. It may be necessary to detox within a medical care facility or treatment center to ensure the body is capable of handling the withdrawal symptoms at all times. Because alcohol causes an individual’s tolerance to increase over time, it is possible for individuals with an extremely high tolerance to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms even when there is a low blood alcohol level detected in the body with alcohol present.Getting Help For an Alcohol AddictionGetting help for a loved one or a friend in your life who is struggling to overcome an alcohol addiction is never easy, especially if they are in denial or hesitant about their own ability to give up drinking altogether. When you want to get help for a loved one in your life, doing so can be done with a bit of research on both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers and treatment facilities near you, locally and online. Inpatient treatment centers provide a stabilized medical care facility with proper equipment, staffing and medically trained professionals to ensure that your loved one is carefully monitored and cared for as much as possible throughout the process of detoxing and ridding the alcohol from their system.Outpatient programs allow your loved one to live in their own home or with a relative while attending meetings and various counseling sessions for a set period of time to complete the program in its entirety. Choosing between an inpatient an outpatient program highly depends on the individual’s own preferences and needs when detoxing from using alcohol based on their current dependency to the drug and how it has impacted or negatively affected their lives and the lives of their loved ones.Understanding how alcoholism can affect everyone involved with an individual who is abusing alcohol is one of the best ways to begin searching for the right resources for your own friend or loved one who has become addicted themselves. The more you understand about alcohol addiction along with signs and symptoms that are commonly associated with alcohol withdrawal, the easier it becomes to assess your own situation to determine the best course of action for any loved one in your life who has been personally affected by abusing alcohol.

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